Sean Barrett looks back at the 2007/08 season - a roller-coaster ride of emotions for everybody associated with A.F.C Bournemouth.
It’s fair to say that the last 10 months have been a roller-coaster ride of emotions for everybody associated with A.F.C Bournemouth. Despite one of the toughest league’s for many years, a seemingly endless injury crisis, a 10 point deduction and the club being run in the latter stages of the season by an administrator – Bournemouth battled to the end and spurred on by tremendous support home and away almost pulled off one of the greatest escapes in history. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and we were relegated right at the death. Here is a look back at where the season was won and lost including some of the highs and lows of the 07/08 season.
The season was going to be Kevin Bonds first full season in charge and it was clear from the beginning he had some big ideas for the club and wanted to get his own team together. So long before the season had began out went long serving Cherries legend Steve Fletcher, established midfielder Marcus Browning, loyal defenders Shaun Maher, Karl Broadhurst and Steve Purches as well as young guns Taz Kahil, Conal Platt, Curtis Allen and James Coutts. With all these changes happening we began June with just 9 contracted players – the fans were desperate to see some signings so it was relief for all when on June 19 th Bond made his first permanent signing with Brentford striker Jo Kuffour signing for the club after turning down several other offers. This proved a very positive signing with Jo scoring 14 goals in the previous campaign despite being relegated. Next came to of the most experienced defenders around in Paul Telfer and Russell Perret. Ex-cherry Gareth O’Connor then joined on loan and we soon saw three trialists in Ryan Garry, Jason Pearce and Marvin Bartley all brought in on free transfers. As we entered August we saw one of the last of Bonds permanent signings in Lee Bradbury – originally on a four month loan Bradbury impressed bond enough to earn a contract to the end of the season. Bond also has delved into the loan market this season bringing in no less than 9 loanees throughout the season and sending out tough tackling midfielder Neil Young to Weymouth for several months.
August saw cherries pick up 4 points from 3 league games including a 0-0 draw away at Forest (who finished the season 2 nd) and a 2-1 away win at Doncaster. Not a bad start and many felt optimistic about the season ahead. August also saw the cherries lose 1-0 away at West Brom in the league cup 1 st round.
Unfortunately as we entered September things started to unravel with the Cherries not recording a single win in the 5 league games, picking up just 1 point. However September did see Bournemouth record a 2-0 home win over Walsall in the JPT 1 st round. October saw a slight improvement with Bournemouth picking up 4 points from the five games including a 4-1 away win at Crewe. Also in October the Cherries qualified for the 3 rd round of the JPT with a 1-0 away win at Bristol Rovers. The fans did begin to worry however that they hadn’t seen a home win yet.
November brought more misery for Cherries fans with just one league win in 4, being knocked out of the JPT by league 2 promotion hopefuls MK Dons and needing a replay and extra time to beat part-timers Barrow in the FA Cup 1 st round. December began with Bournemouth finding themselves 2 nd bottom of the table - 6 points from safety and being knocked out of the FA Cup by Millwall. Things looked bleak. But then on the 15 th December 4746 cherries fans saw something which caused their spirits to be lifted – a first home win in 4 months! December saw the cherries pick up 7 points from 6 games and climb up to just 3 points from safety.
The New Year began with a 2-3 away defeat at Brighton – what followed in January wasn’t too great either with 4 losses and 2 wins - still it was a vital 6 points for the Cherries. Off the pitch the clubs financial situation worsened and rumors were rife that the cherries may be the 2 nd team in the league to enter administration – a prospect which would surely ensure they would be playing league 2 football next year. January also saw experienced Norwegian midfielder Jo Tessem on a free until the end of the season.
February proved to be one of the most critical months in the football clubs history with the Cherries finally biting the bullet and entering administration – resulting in a 10 point deduction. Administrator Gerald Krasner was placed in charge of running the club and was actively seeking bids from potential buyers. With debts around £4mil the cherries almost went out of business all together – the clubs league 1 status was seriously threatened dropping to the bottom of the table. Fortunately though February saw a change of form for the cherries with 7 points from 5 games including a 2-0 win at home to Notts. Forrest.
In the remaining 3 months of the season the cherries put together an incredible run of results, putting the clubs financial crisis to the back of their minds the players found some form making up a 14 point deficit and giving the fans real belief that the great escape could be on – this all happening at the same time the players agreed to taking a 50% pay cut in wages to help the club run. The run of form saw the Cherries win 6 games in a row with breathtaking wins away at Walsall and league leaders Swansea and vital home wins against fellow strugglers Crewe, Millwall and Bristol Rovers and play off hopefuls Tranmere.
Off the pitch the only bid that administrator Gerald Krasner had accepted came from a consortium led by current chairman Jeff Mostyn, however in a press conference on 3 April 2008, Mr Krasner said that due to a breach of the agreement between the administrators and the consortium relating to the funding of the consortium and the sale of the club.
We then come to the season finale – 1 point from safety with a nice short trip up to promotion pushers Carlisle. Over 1500 loyal cherries supporters made the 700 odd mile round trip to cheer the cherries onto league 1 safety. Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan and Bournemouth managed to play out a 1-1 draw which proved not enough to stay up. The Cherries were down.
So where does this leave us now? Still not financially secure and looking at a possible start to the next campaign with -15 points. Despite this I remain optimistic, I believe the team have proved themselves nothing short of heroic and with a couple of smart additions our still young squad will be stronger for the experience and WILL bounce back bigger and better than ever. I urge all fans out there to put behind them the disappointment of relegation and look forward to what will be bright future for the fans, the team and the club.
Bring on next season!!
